Business and union leaders in the resources sector have committed to work in partnership with the Australian Government to increase productivity and competitiveness, create jobs and improve the skills of workers in the sector.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Jobs, Skills and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, industry and union representatives today discussed the challenges of labour and skills demand, attraction and retention of employees, enhancing productivity and collaborative workplace relations.
The Australian resources sector is facing a number of significant challenges at a time when there are historically high levels of capital investment. Many of these challenges relate to employment in the sector.
At a meeting held at Parliament House in Canberra, all participants acknowledged their common interest and shared responsibility in supporting initiatives and strategies to ensure sustained growth in this economically vital sector.
To this end, the parties agreed to form the Resources Advisory Council.
The participants acknowledged that the challenge of productivity, skills and labour supply will require a multi-faceted approach.
Membership of the Council will include key business, employers and unions in the resources sector. The Australian Mines and Metals Association and the Australian Council of Trade Unions will be represented on the Council and will provide recommendations to Government on final memberships.
The Council will meet twice per calendar year and will have the ability to develop recommendations to inform government and industry as appropriate.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will provide secretariat services for the new body.
Terms of Reference were agreed which will see the new body discuss and develop recommendations where appropriate for industry and/or government to:
* Boost multi-factor productivity and competitiveness;
* Promote meaningful and collaborative workplace relations practices;
* Reinforce Australia's role as a competitive and reliable supplier of resources;
* Enhance skill development, job readiness and industry attractiveness for prospective employees;
* Address sector workforce challenges including labour and skill shortages;
* Strengthen employment pathways into the resources sector including by training, apprenticeships, up-skilling or re-skilling workers who have recently become retrenched and/or unemployed;
* Increase the employment of suitably skilled Australian workers for major projects;
* Facilitate and enhance skills development opportunities for existing employees;
* Retain skills and knowledge through effective employer/union and employee engagement strategies;
* Promote the sector as a long-term career destination for a diverse range of Australians;
* Enhance both the attraction and retention of Indigenous workers and women workers in the sector at all levels;
* Receive reports on the work of the Steering Group overseeing the implementation of the NRSET recommendations and monitoring the work of the House of Representatives inquiry into the use of fly-in fly-out workforce practices.